Coreopsis plant named ‘Limerock Dream’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Coreopsis  plant named ‘Limerock Dream’, characterized by its daisy-type inflorescences that are about 3 cm in diameter; unique yellow orange and red purple-colored ray florets; very freely flowering with numerous inflorescences per plant; upright and outwardly spreading growth habit; and freely branching growth habit.

Botanical designation: Coreopsis hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Limerock Dream’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCoreopsis plant, botanically known as Coreopsis hybrida and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Limerock Dream’.

The new Coreopsis was discovered and selected by the Inventor in acontrolled environment in Smoketown, Pa. in May, 2004, as anaturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Coreopsis hybridacultivar Limerock Passion, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,979. Thewhole plant mutation was observed by the Inventor within a population offlowering plants of the cultivar Limerock Passion.

Asexual reproduction of the new Coreopsis by vegetative tip cuttings ina controlled environment in Smoketown, Pa., since August, 2004, hasshown that the unique features of this new Coreopsis are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Limerock Dream has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Limerock Dream’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Limerock Dream’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

-   -   1. Daisy-type inflorescences that are about 3 cm in diameter.    -   2. Unique yellow orange and red purple-colored ray florets.    -   3. Very freely flowering with numerous inflorescences per plant.    -   4. Upright and outwardly spreading growth habit.    -   5. Freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy plants.

Plants of the new Coreopsis are most similar to plants of the parent,the cultivar Limerock Passion. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inSmoketown, Pa., plants of the new Coreopsis differed primarily fromplants of the cultivar Limerock Passion in ray floret coloration asplants of the cultivar Limerock Passion have light red purple-coloredray florets.

Plants of new Coreopsis can also be compared to plants of the cultivarLimerock Ruby, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,455. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Smoketown, Pa., plants of the new Coreopsisdiffered primarily from plants of the cultivar Limerock Ruby in rayfloret coloration as plants of the cultivar Limerock Ruby have darkcrimson red-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Coreopsis, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Coreopsis. The photograph is a close-up view of typicalinflorescences of ‘Tangerine Dream’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The followingobservations and measurements describe plants grown in Smoketown, Pa.during the summer and fall in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse andunder cultural conditions which approximate commercial practice. Duringthe production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 21 to 46° C.and night temperatures ranged from 18 to 29° C. Plants used for thephotographs and description were grown for about one year in one-galloncontainers.

-   Botanical classification: Coreopsis hybrida cultivar Limerock Dream.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Coreopsis    hybrida cultivar Limerock Passion, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.    15,979.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Vegetative tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 18 days at            temperatures of 18° C. Winter: About 20 days at temperatures            of 13° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 36 days at            temperatures of 13 to 18° C.        -   Root description.—Fine; well-branched.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance.—Perennial; upright and outwardly spreading;            mounding habit.        -   Plant height.—About 26.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 28.5 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; usually two            laterals will develop at every node. Pinching is typically            not required.        -   Lateral branch description.—Aspect: Initially upright, then            outwardly spreading. Strength: Moderately strong. Length:            About 16.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Internode length: About            2.6 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, single or            trifoliate; sessile. Single leaf length: About 3.2 cm.            Terminal leaflet length: About 3.5 cm. Lateral leaflet            length: About 2 cm. Single leaf width: About 2.5 mm.            Terminal leaflet width: About 3.5 mm. Lateral leaflet width:            About 2 mm. Shape: Linear; narrow. Apex: Acute. Base:            Attenuate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Developing foliage, upper surface: Close to            147A. Developing foliage, lower surface: Close to 146A.            Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: More green than 147A;            venation, similar to lamina. Fully expanded foliage, lower            surface: 147A to 146A; venation, similar to lamina.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with elongated            oblong to broadly linear-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences            borne on terminals, arising from leaf axils. Disc and ray            florets develop acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences            persistent.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower            in the late spring after sufficient cool temperatures and            continue to flower through the fall.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Individual inflorescences last            about one to two weeks.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Very freely flowering with about            15 inflorescence buds and inflorescences per lateral branch.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 3 cm. Depth (height):            About 7.5 mm. Diameter of disc: About 5.5 mm. Receptacle            diameter: About 3 mm.        -   Fragrance.—Very faint; sweet, grass-like.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 5 mm. Diameter: About            3.5 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 146A overlain with            close to 187A.        -   Ray florets.—Shape: Elongated oblong to broadly linear.            Length: About 1.5 cm. Corolla tube length: About 2.5 mm.            Width: About 7 mm. Corolla tube diameter: About 1 mm. Apex:            Emarginate; deeply incised; jagged appearance. Base:            Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth, glabrous;            satiny. Aspect: Initially upright; with development,            perpendicular to the peduncle; mostly flat. Number of ray            florets per inflorescence: About seven or eight arranged in            a single whorl. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 9A to 12A to 15A; towards the apex,            overlain with longitudinal streaks, close to 53A. When            opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 9C to 9D;            towards the apex, underlain with longitudinal streaks, close            to 59A.        -   Disc florets.—Arrangement: Massed at the center of the            inflorescence. Shape: Tubular, flared at apex. Length: About            3.5 mm. Width: Apex: About 1 mm. Base: Less than 1 mm.            Number of disc florets per inflorescence: About 24. Color,            immature and mature: Apex: Close to 187A. Mid-section: Close            to 12A. Base: Close to 150D.        -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity: About eight arranged in a            single whorl. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 3 mm at the            base. Shape: Elongated oblong. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate,            fused. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            waxy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Towards the base,            close to 146A; towards the apex, close to 146A overlain with            close to 169A; at the apex, close to 187A.        -   Pappus.—Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Color: Close            to 169A.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Very strong, wiry; flexible. Aspect:            Upright to about 45° from vertical. Length: About 3.4 cm.            Diameter: Less than 1 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Close to 146A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Stamen quantity: Five per floret. Anther length: About            1 mm. Anther color: 187A to 202A. Amount of pollen: Scarce.            Pollen color: Close to 21A. Gynoecium: Present on disc            florets only. Pistil quantity: One per floret. Pistil            length: About 3 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color:            Close to 21A. Style color: Close to 155A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed/fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Coreopsis has not been observed on plants grown under commercial    conditions.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Coreopsis have demonstrated    good tolerance to night temperatures as low as −5° C. and day    temperatures as high as 50° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Coreopsis plant named ‘Limerock Dream’, as illustrated and described. 